Vitamin D, leptin and impact on immune response to seasonal influenza A/H1N1 vaccine in older persons

ABSTRACT

Background: Influenza-related complications are highest in the elderly. Vaccine efficacy is lower due to immunosenescence. Vitamin D's immunomodulatory role was studied in the context of vaccine response.

Methods: We evaluated the effect of baseline 25-(OH) D on vaccine-induced immunological response in a cohort of 159 healthy subjects ages 50–74 in Rochester, MN, who received one dose of seasonal trivalent 2010–2011 influenza vaccine, containing A/California/H1N1- like virus. We examined correlations between 25-(OH) D, leptin, and leptin-related gene SNPs to understand the role of leptin and vitamin D's effects.

Results: The median (IQR) baseline for total 25-(OH) D was 44.4 ng/mL (36.6–52.2 ng/mL). No correlation was observed with age. No correlation between 25-(OH) D levels and humoral immune outcomes existed at any timepoint. There was a weak positive correlation between 25-(OH) D levels and change (Day 75-Day 0) in influenza-specific granzyme-B response (r=0.16, p=0.04). We found significant associations between 3 SNPs in the PPARG gene and 25-(OH) D levels (rs1151996, p=0.01; rs1175540, p= 0.02; rs1175544, p=0.03).

Conclusion: Several SNPs in the PPARG gene were significantly associated with baseline 25-(OH) D levels. Understanding the functional and mechanistic relationships between vitamin D and influenza vaccine-induced immunity could assist in directing new influenza vaccine design.

KEYWORDS:

• H1N1 subtype
• influenza A virus
• influenza vaccines
• leptin
• receptors
• vitamin D
• vitamin D deficiency

Funding

Research reported in this abstract was supported by the National Institute of Allergy And Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number U01AI089859, and by the Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. This publication was made possible by CTSA Grant Number UL1 TR000135 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NIH.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

Dr. Poland is the chair of a Safety Evaluation Committee for novel investigational vaccine trials being conducted by Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Poland offers consultative advice on vaccine development to Merck & Co. Inc., CSL Biotherapies, Avianax, Dynavax, Novartis Vaccines and Therapeutics, Emergent Biosolutions, Adjuvance, and Microdermis. Drs. Poland and Ovsyannikova hold 2 patents related to vaccinia and measles peptide research. These activities have been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and are conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. This research has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and was conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies.

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank Caroline L. Vitse for her editorial assistance.